Container



Aug., 8,, 1944. G. w. REESE. 2,355,108

CONTAINER Filed Sept 4, 1940 ATT'oR'NEYs Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Garland W. Reese, Chappaqua, N. Y.,. assignor to American Can Company, New York, NTY; a corporation of New Jersey Application September 4, 1940, Serial No. 355,400 1 1 Claim.

This: invention relates to containers or cans of the interior collar type'having'a tearing strip set off in the body wall which is adapted to be severed from the body immediately beneath the top, the removal of which leaves a countersunk cover thereafter serving as a temporary reclosure which fits upon a hemmed collar: secured within the upper part of the body.

The invention particularly contemplates the provision of a metallic container for the storing.

and preserving of uniform sized objects such for example as tennis balls, which because of the.

internal pressure of their'infiated nature must be packed in pressurev retaining receptacles in order to equalize such pressure and prevent the deteri oration of the balls. V V

' An object of the invention is. the provision of a tearing strip container or can of theginternal collar variety specifically adapted to the packaging of uniform size articles under pressure, the internal collar being so arranged within the container that it provides a. substantially flush and uniform :internal size so that the. articles contained therein may be readily removed when the container is opened.

" Another object of the invention is the provision of an internal collar type can having a tearing strip for opening the containerwhich is-located adjacent the top end and inside of theinternal collar so that when the tearing strip is-removed a smooth hemmed edge is exposed at the top ofthe opened can which eliminates all danger of cutting the hands of the user, such an opened can being adapted for reclosure by a countersunk snap cover produced in the opening of the can.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a container or can for the preservation of solid, uniformly sized articles having an internal flush wall of such dimensions as sub stantially to embrace the can contents of a predetermined number of articles to prevent the articles from shifting within the container and to reduce all unnecessary air space.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a closed container;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view partly broken away as taken along a vertical plane passed: through the center of the closed container of Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is-a still further enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line 3--3 in Fig. 2 and showinga reclosed can after the tearingstrip has beenremoved.

As a preferred embodiment of the'inyention there is shown in the drawing a sheet metal can comprising atubular body having a top end or cover I2 and a bottom. end l3 which are secured to the body by double seams I4. Inside the body H (Figs. 2 and 3') adjacent the top end, there is disposed a narrow comparatively flat collar I5 having a smooth upper rim or hemmededge l6 produced by an inwardly turned annular flange H. The collar l5 is preferably secured in place within the container body in an annular bead l8 forming ,an innergroove into which the lower marginal edge of the ,collarjis frictionallyfitted.

The can bod-y II is preferably necked outwardly above the bead |8 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the collar I5 thus forming an enlarged annular body section or expanded area l9. .This outward necking of .the body brings the inner surface of the collar. substantially flush with the inner surface of. themajor wall part of. the body The annular flange IT extends inwardly a slight amount and reduces the opening of the container just thedouble thickness ofth'e material. This reduction however is not sufficient-to interfere with the withdrawal of articles from the container. Theinnersurface of. the collar flange (Fig. 3:) presents a'smooth friction surface inside of which a depending wall 2| of the countersunk end l2 engages. The wall 2| is offset inwardly as at 22 by an inwardly merging wall portion which provides a shoulder orstop resting against the hemmed edge |6 of the collar in the closed can as best shown in Fig. 3. This construction also provides a friction plug reclosure for the opened container when a tearing strip 23 (Fig. 1) is removed in opening the can.

The tearing strip 23 (Fig. l) is set off by two parallel score lines 24 and 25 formed in the outwardly necked area 9 of the body I and is positioned relatively close to the upper double end seam joint M. This leaves a narrow body portion 26 attached to the end l2 upon the removal of the tearing strip 23 in opening the can. The raw edge of the severed body portion 26 is shlelded by the wall 2| formed on the countersunk end l2 and prevents cutting of the hands of the user.

The countersunk end I 2 is provided with a domed top panel 21 (Fig. 2), the top of which is set below the upper end joint or double seam M. The dome shaped strengthens the end to withstand greater internal air or gas pressures which are used to surround pressure filled articles, such as tennis balls and the like. Both the top and bottom domed ends also tend to conform partially to the spherical shape of the upper and lower tennis balls (indicated by the dot and dash line circles Fig. 2) and are arranged to embrace such balls when they are packed within the container. The interior of the body wall H is sized also to engage the tennis balls... 'f

" having oppositely disposed end members and an and this in combination with the domed end construction prevents the balls from shifting.

The lower part of the depending wall 2| of the cover l2 (Fig. 3) may be pressed outwardly outwardly extending bead located adjacent a top end thereof, the wall of the body above the said bead being of greater diameter than the "body ;wall below'the bead, an annular internal at intervals to form a plurality of spaced teats or projections 28.

tion wall 2| merges into a horizontal panel wall 29. The panel wall 29 .is suitably spaced below the top end seam l4 so that the projections 28 are disposed beneath the edge of the collar flange IT, as at 3|. They also add to the effectiveness of a reclosure when the can is opened.

Opening of the container by removal of the tearing strip 23 is efiected by severing along the score lines 24 and 25 which is performed in. the usual manner by engaging the tearing tongue (indicated at 32, Fig; 1) with the conventional slotted key and winding off the strip. Thereafter the cover with its bodyflange part 26 and the depending wall 21 of the end 12 constitutes a double seal reclosure 33.

When the reclosure 33 is separated by this removal of the tearing strip 23, the tennis balls may be readily removed from-the container. Any unused balls which are'not removed may be temporarily closed within the container by the reclosure. 1

It is obvious from the foregoing description that containers embodying the present invention are capable of efliciently preserving tennis balls or perishable articles for an indefinite period, yet they are at the same time available for instant use. Such a container affords safety in handling as the severed edges of the opened body and also. of the reclosure-are sufliciently protected, leaving smooth edges on the reclosure and on the hemmed rim of the collar of the container. I

It is thought that the invention'and many of These projections are preferably formed at the lower edge where the fric-.

collar fitted within the larger diameter of the body, the internal diameter of said collar being equal to the internal diameter of the body below its attendant advantages will be understood said bead and also substantially equal to the diameter of the enclosedtennis balls, the lower edge of said collar having an outwardly extended bead seated in tight fitting engagement with the said body bead .to secure the collar within the body, the upper edge of said collar having an internally hemmed flange to provide a smooth mouth for the container, a tearing strip defined by spaced score lines disposed in the enlarged section of said body just above said body bead and outside of said collar for opening the container, said end members being secured to the upper and lower ends of the body, said top end member having a countersunk wall fitting within the mouth of the container and frictionally engaging said upper hemmed collar flange and having a portion extending therebelow, said portion having spaced outwardly extending projections engaging beneath said collar flange, said end members having outwardly domed panels, for engaging the outermost of the enclosed tennis balls to prevent shifting of the balls within the container, said top end member after removal of said tearing strip in the opening of the container constituting a reclosure engageable .with said collar in reclosing position, said top end member when in 

